(Eden Prairie, MN) – The Minnesota Vikings have partnered with Sanford Health this season to promote new concussion technology app from X2 Biosystems. The X2-ICE app is a version of the sideline concussion app that is mandated for use by all 32 NFL teams in 2013. X2-ICE provides for the cloud based data storage of an athlete’s prior examinations which allows for immediate real-time comparison when a player has a suspected concussion.

Sanford Health was instrumental in getting concussion legislation passed in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota in 2011. The organization has a reputation of being advocates for children who compete in athletics, especially in the areas of brain health and brain injury.

Earlier this year, representatives from high school football programs in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota were invited to fill out a concussion awareness survey for the chance to win a new iPad with the X2 ICE app. Eight finalists were selected, and one school was awarded the grand prize – a 24 person suite to the Vikings versus Eagles game on Dec. 15 and a surprise appearance by the Minnesota Vikings. The grand prize-winning entry was submitted by Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD. On Oct. 29, Toby Gerhart and Josh Robinson made a surprise visit to the Lincoln High School football team’s practice to award the prizes.

“Sanford Health is proud to partner with the Minnesota Vikings and X2 Biosystems to put state-of-the-art concussion management technology in the hands of high school athletic trainers throughout our Sanford Health footprint and beyond,” said Thayne A. Munce, PhD, associate director of the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford Health. “If an athlete gets a concussion, it is vital the injury is properly recognized and managed. The X2 ICE app, used by every NFL team, gives athletic trainers in our communities an advanced sideline tool available to care for the brain health of young athletes.”

First Prize Winners (received an iPad with the X2-ICE app): West Fargo High School - West Fargo, ND; Watertown High School - Watertown, SD; Burnsville High School - Burnsville, MN; Roosevelt High School - Sioux Falls, SD; Sauk Rapids-Rice High School - Sauk Rapids, MN; John Marshall High School - Rochester, MN; Moorhead High School - Moorhead, MN